1. Using one or more examples, explain the three essential conditions for a healthy interpersonal relationship according to Carl Rogers. Why might it be hard, under some circumstances, to enact all three of these essential conditions at once?
2. Discuss the following aspects of self-disclosure: a) the difference and relationship between the depth and breadth of self-disclosure; b) what does reciprocity mean with regard to self-disclosure, and what prompts this reciprocity?
3. According to social penetration theory and social exchange theory, how and why do relationships deteriorate? Explain the process.
4. Has empirical research consistently supported the claims of social penetration theory? Discuss.
5. Explain the meanings and the relationships among the following terms: Outcome, CL, and CLalt. How do they help us to predict the context for optimal self-disclosure? What do they tell us about the victims of domestic violence?
6. Does the communication between you and your roommate or your closest friend seem to follow the patterns set forth by social penetration theory and social exchange theory? Elaborate.
7. Using your own family or a family with which you are familiar as an example, explain Watzlawick's idea that families and other interpersonal relationships are interactional systems characterized by homeostasis.
8. State and explain each of the five axioms of communication according to the Interactional View of Watzlawick. Which axiom do you believe is most important? Why?
9. Watzlawick maintained that you cannot not communicate. What does this double negative mean? Do you agree or disagree with his contention? Explain.
10. Griffin states that "with few exceptions..." language is digital and that "most" nonverbal communication is analogical. Explain the concepts of digital and analogical communication and discuss the exceptions to the identification of digital with language and analogical with nonverbal communication.
11. According to the Interactional View, the things people argue about usually tell us little or nothing about the real basis of their interpersonal conflicts. Using an example, explain and critique this point.
12. Using your own example, explain and illustrate the concept of double-bind, and show how reframing can help such a dysfunctional relationship to change.
13. Using your own example, explain and illustrate the three basic contradictions that Baxter and Montgomery claim beset almost every close interpersonal relationship.
14. Explain the difference between internal and external dialectics, and explain and illustrate the three external dialectics defined by Baxter and Montgomery.
15. What are the eight basic strategies that people use to cope with relational contradictions? Are some of these strategies clearly superior to others in all situations or are different strategies appropriate in different situations? Explain your answer, using examples.
16. In the Introduction and throughout his book, Arnett claims that Buber's dialogue theory is especially relevant because of social changes that have taken place since the late sixties and early seventies, when Arnett himself went to college. Has society continued to change in the decade since this book was first published so that the book is either more or less relevant to students today than it was a decade ago? Discuss.
17. Is Buber's dialogue theory a better theory when evaluated by scientific or by humanistic standards? Explain your answer.
18. What is dialogue and how does it differ from monologue according to Buber? Using an example, discuss four main differences presented in lecture.
19. Dialogue is sometimes confused with technical dialogue, mere interaction, outgoingness, love, equality, or weakness & compromise. Using examples, explain how true dialogue differs from each of these in Buber's perspective.
20. Using an example of your own, explain Buber's concept of "the narrow ridge" and show how it might be applied in a conflict situation.
21. According to Arnett, how does a possessive view of meaning lead to existential mistrust, exploitative listening, dependent listening, and excessive image consciousness?
22. Is the view of meaning in Buber's dialogue theory closer to a transmission or a ritual model of communication? Explain.
23. Carl Rogers and Martin Buber had somewhat different perspectives on interpersonal dialogue. Compare and contrast the two theories, and discuss an example that illustrates the practical implications of the difference between them.
24. Can true dialogue occur between people in unequal roles (parent-child, boss-employee, teacher-student)? Using an example, explain why this might be difficult but is nevertheless possible from Buber's point of view.
25. Can "community of otherness" be created in a bureaucratic organization such as a university? Discuss the differences between community of affinity and community of otherness and illustrate your answer with an example of your own.
26. What might Cheris Kramarae have to say about any of the theories we have studied in this unit? Can any of these theories be criticized for ignoring or failing to represent the experiences of women or other muted groups? Do any of these theories give notable attention to the experiences of muted groups?

This page was last updated: December 30, 1998